Dear MUNers, welcome to Fridays with MUNPlanet. Our guest today is Wilf Mountfield , Secretary-General of LIMUN 2015 and one of the most experienced MUNers in Europe. Wilf actively contributes to our community discussions, and we asked him about his MUN career and life path, before pondering on the humanitarian work abd future of MUNs.

“Honestly, I feel like we are approaching the golden age of MUN.”

MUNPlanet: Wilf, you are English, and spent 11 years living in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Turkey and Thailand to name a few. Tell us something about your life path, and how you dived into the world of MUNs.

Wilf: I spent most of my childhood growing up all over the world. Safe to say, given the places I was living in, and the times I was living there, I have experienced some of the worst things that a country can have inflicted upon it: civil war, tsunami, famine, political catastrophe, earthquakes, it really opens your eyes. Rather than sitting in a westernised classroom being taught about this form of abject poverty, living standards and access to food, education, water, I could see it for myself. My father has worked for various aid agencies, often working with various UN bodies to coordinate operations or manage relief and recovery programmes. So I saw, from a very young age, the practical implications of the work that the UN does, and the aid world does.
So, at the first available opportunity, I got involved with MUN. In school, all I wanted to do was run recovery operations across the world, that much hasn’t changed, but joining MUN, replicating the decisions and operation of the largest collective body in the world that performs these sorts of tasks was the closest I could get to that. So, when I was 13, I just dived in.
MUNPlanet: Do you think that MUNs are addictive, given the fact that you have participated in over 50 MUNs so far? What is the most addictive feature of MUNs?Wilf: Do I think they are addictive? Interesting question. I genuinely think it takes a certain type of personality to become hooked the way I have, more on that later. But in general, I think MUN is very addictive. The social element is wonderful, it allows you to meet so many people, in such an informal setting (whatever conference organisers might think – this is the truth), and thus broaden your understanding. It isn’t the meeting people, or making new friends that I think is addictive, I think it is the experience of a new opinion, a new viewpoint, and a new solution. That at least is what keeps me coming back.

“I spent most of my childhood growing up all over the world. Safe to say, given the places I was living in, and the times I was living there, I have experienced some of the worst things that a country can have inflicted upon it..."MUNPlanet: Given your vast experience as delegate, organizer and advisor – what would be your most important takeaways from MUNs?Wilf: I think the role changes what you take from it. As a delegate, I can say that opinions and the MUN community is what you gain first and foremost. As a chair, it’s the experience of management. You have the rules, you must know them explicitly. It is your job to be the authority in the room. So you get the chilling experience of being put on show, at the front, with everyone judging every word you say. As an organiser, the best thing I have brought away with me has been teamwork. Only when you have a large event to organise, with incredible pressure and an eager audience do you come to value the importance of a valuable and cooperative team. As an advisor and teacher, and this is the best bit for me, I get to take away the knowledge that those participating are enjoying themselves. How cliché this must sound, but anyone who has done the same is fully aware of this truth. There is nothing more emotionally rewarding than allowing someone to enjoy and express themselves.MUNPlanet: In one of the discussions at MUNPlanet you wrote that the most valuable skill that MUN has taught you is that of manipulation. That sounds a bit controversial, doesn’t it?Wilf: Yes. It was meant to be controversial, because I think it underpins one of the most overlooked facts of global politics. During an MUN simulation, the participants are having fun. They do not have a nation’s international concerns on their mind. Political repercussions to suffer should they fail at their task. The stress of domestic pressures and international lobby groups. I see the real world as being far more cunning, devious and manipulative. Learning to manage people, in the literal sense of the word, is difficult. Learning how to manipulative the environment to suit your objectives is how you ensure your policy is enacted. It’s how you ensure that you get what you need. I don’t think it needs to be viewed in a negative light. Manipulation isn’t always a negative. Take a minute to think about the concept and it becomes clear that there is more to it than purely destructive connotations.“MUN as an academic addition is a rather new concept despite how old MUN is as a tradition. Hopefully, over the coming years, it will become more central to what university departments see as being productive development amongst their students.”
MUNPlanet: In your MUNPlanet profile, you stated that you attended over 50 MUNs worldwide. From that variety, what conferences do you still keep in mind, and why?
Wilf: It does seem to be a little too many doesn’t it? Perhaps I have a problem. As for notable conferences, it is difficult to determine . Often, I remember people more than a conference itself. A delegate who stood out of the crowd with their experience, a chair who displayed an impeccable knowledge of the rules of procedure, a delegate who was highly attractive… However, there are one or two conferences which stand out. More often than not, it is either for a highly negative, or a highly positive aspect. One conference in particular, which shall remain anonymous, was so badly organised, on arrival as a delegate, I had to step in to help arrange the event. At the other end of the spectrum, conferences where I attended a crisis which was highly productive, creative and really pushed the delegates above and beyond also stand out. I won’t name any conferences here specifically, out of professional respect, as each conference changes from year to year. It is a lucky dip. It could be wonderful one year and terrible the next!MUNPlanet: You have been elected Secretary-General of LIMUN, London 2015. What have been the greatest challenges and opportunities for you during this project?Wilf: Well, I haven’t been doing the job for long, so I know there are far more challenges and opportunities to come. So far though, the biggest challenge has been selecting my absolutely stellar team. There were enormous numbers of applications and choosing a group of people who I thought would work well together was absolutely vital. We shall see how they get on. The biggest opportunity has been the chance to expand what LIMUN does. Since I gained office, LIMUN has implemented a new strategy, reformed as a new charity, now has a much larger Outreach presence in secondary schools across London; has a newly formed international presence and is hosting our first event with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in June this year. It has given me the chance to broaden my professional horizons, and also, hopefully, scope for personal friendships too.MUNPlanet: British higher education system is among the best in the world, and there is an established tradition of the study of International Relations. How would you describe the intellectual environment in your community and what is the academic exchange between the students and the MUN as a concept?Wilf: The intellectual environment is fantastic. My lecturers are leading practitioners in the field and are constantly producing more literature in the field, along with most other lecturers at universities in London and across the United Kingdom. It certainly allows you to challenge yourself on a variety of levels. As for the academic exchange, it is currently rather limited. MUN as an academic addition is a rather new concept despite how old MUN is as a tradition. Hopefully, over the coming years, it will become more central to what university departments see as being productive development amongst their students.MUNPlanet: The past decade has seen an increased dynamics and globalization of MUN as a concept. How do you see MUNs at the moment and in the years ahead? Wilf: Honestly, I feel like we are approaching the golden age of MUN. Not to say it’s over, merely that we are finally approaching our objective. They exist all over the world, in an enormous range of procedures, environments, objectives, committees. Hopefully, they will be seen as a tool to allow young people to comprehend how one piece of international politics works, albeit slightly less in depth than reality. I think it will start to serve as an important milestone. I have yet to hear of an MUN group that has trouble getting members!
“Honestly, I feel like we are approaching the golden age of MUN.”MUNPlanet: And what is the current state of MUNing in the United Kingdom?Wilf: Fantastic! More conferences than I can name, and I have been to a fair few in this country. There is an amazing community, the regulars of which all know each other and use each other’s expertise and advice. We often have to fight for ‘ownership’ of a weekend during the year to make sure another conference doesn’t divide the country in two! However, that is becoming more and more common as more conferences are started up. What can I say, come and visit!!MUNPlanet: Can you imagine a world in which the best MUNers are leaders of their respective states. What would International Politics look like, being informed by the spirit of UN Charter?Wilf: I feel like being a good MUNer, and being a good leader (of a country) are two rather different things. Being a good negotiator, diplomat, those are transferrable and useful skills. To be a leader of a nation however, I feel that a slightly different set of skills are needed . To see international politics ruled by, or informed at the least, by the UN Charter would be a much closer, more productive system. As to how realistic I see this proposal to be, again not very. It has been brought up in my activity on this site that I am a Realist (within the IR theoretical tradition). While this isn’t strictly true, I do often have a more pragmatic, or what some call pessimistic, view of international politics.

“I think this sort of community [MUNPlanet] can enact change, all over the world, in all sorts of communities.”MUNPlanet: One of the goals of MUNPlanet is to get the brightest members of the community together to take part in a meaningful dialogue and interaction. Do you believe that MUNers can step forward and bring about the change as a transnational leadership force?
Wilf: I certainly think that together, with a unified voice and a strong support base, a lot can be achieved. I think that the youth of this decade need to make a bigger impact. We are going to be on this earth for another 80 years, we need to do something to ensure its longevity. If part of that is convincing, debating with, enlightening the youth of today and getting them involved, then yes, I think this sort of community can enact change, all over the world, in all sorts of communities .MUNPlanet: What comes after MUNs, and in what way you plan to utilize your MUN experience?

Wilf: What comes after? I do wonder that, every day. With all the skills I now have, negotiating, debating, writing, critical thinking, management experience, logistical planning, coordination, etc. I could do a lot of things. Running recovery operations, helping to right the plethora of disasters, natural and otherwise, that plague this earth still presents itself as the most attractive option. Having said that, I will be applying for the Fast Stream civil service in the UK to head towards the Diplomatic core, but I have many options. All the experience pays off, in so many ways.

MUNPlanet: Any final thoughts?

Wilf: I really wish everyone could have the chance to experience MUN for themselves. To that end, I would love everyone to get as many people involved in it as possible. If they don’t like it, it’s not for them, that’s fine. But there are so many people out there who could use this form of widening experience and eye-opening debate to their advantage. I feel like MUN has more to offer than the cliché international perspective. It’s ultimately about skills. Set on a backdrop as interesting as international relations and the global community, I can’t see what wouldn’t be attractive about it. I should know, I haven’t planned on stopping quite yet.

MUNPlanet: Wilf, thank you for being the guest of Fridays with MUNPlanet, and sharing your experiences and views on the state of MUN affairs in the world with the community. We wish you all the best in preparing LIMUN 2015. Let us know how the things go.

Dear MUNers, welcome to Fridays with MUNPlanet. Our guest today is Wilf Mountfield , Secretary-General of LIMUN 2015 and one of the most experienced MUNers in Europe. Wilf actively contributes to our community discussions, and we asked him about his MUN career and life path, before pondering on the humanitarian work abd future of MUNs.

“Honestly, I feel like we are approaching the golden age of MUN.”

MUNPlanet: Wilf, you are English, and spent 11 years living in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Turkey and Thailand to name a few. Tell us something about your life path, and how you dived into the world of MUNs.

Wilf: I spent most of my childhood growing up all over the world. Safe to say, given the places I was living in, and the times I was living there, I have experienced some of the worst things that a country can have inflicted upon it: civil war, tsunami, famine, political catastrophe, earthquakes, it really opens your eyes. Rather than sitting in a westernised classroom being taught about this form of abject poverty, living standards and access to food, education, water, I could see it for myself. My father has worked for various aid agencies, often working with various UN bodies to coordinate operations or manage relief and recovery programmes. So I saw, from a very young age, the practical implications of the work that the UN does, and the aid world does.
So, at the first available opportunity, I got involved with MUN. In school, all I wanted to do was run recovery operations across the world, that much hasn’t changed, but joining MUN, replicating the decisions and operation of the largest collective body in the world that performs these sorts of tasks was the closest I could get to that. So, when I was 13, I just dived in.
MUNPlanet: Do you think that MUNs are addictive, given the fact that you have participated in over 50 MUNs so far? What is the most addictive feature of MUNs?Wilf: Do I think they are addictive? Interesting question. I genuinely think it takes a certain type of personality to become hooked the way I have, more on that later. But in general, I think MUN is very addictive. The social element is wonderful, it allows you to meet so many people, in such an informal setting (whatever conference organisers might think – this is the truth), and thus broaden your understanding. It isn’t the meeting people, or making new friends that I think is addictive, I think it is the experience of a new opinion, a new viewpoint, and a new solution. That at least is what keeps me coming back.

“I spent most of my childhood growing up all over the world. Safe to say, given the places I was living in, and the times I was living there, I have experienced some of the worst things that a country can have inflicted upon it..."MUNPlanet: Given your vast experience as delegate, organizer and advisor – what would be your most important takeaways from MUNs?Wilf: I think the role changes what you take from it. As a delegate, I can say that opinions and the MUN community is what you gain first and foremost. As a chair, it’s the experience of management. You have the rules, you must know them explicitly. It is your job to be the authority in the room. So you get the chilling experience of being put on show, at the front, with everyone judging every word you say. As an organiser, the best thing I have brought away with me has been teamwork. Only when you have a large event to organise, with incredible pressure and an eager audience do you come to value the importance of a valuable and cooperative team. As an advisor and teacher, and this is the best bit for me, I get to take away the knowledge that those participating are enjoying themselves. How cliché this must sound, but anyone who has done the same is fully aware of this truth. There is nothing more emotionally rewarding than allowing someone to enjoy and express themselves.MUNPlanet: In one of the discussions at MUNPlanet you wrote that the most valuable skill that MUN has taught you is that of manipulation. That sounds a bit controversial, doesn’t it?Wilf: Yes. It was meant to be controversial, because I think it underpins one of the most overlooked facts of global politics. During an MUN simulation, the participants are having fun. They do not have a nation’s international concerns on their mind. Political repercussions to suffer should they fail at their task. The stress of domestic pressures and international lobby groups. I see the real world as being far more cunning, devious and manipulative. Learning to manage people, in the literal sense of the word, is difficult. Learning how to manipulative the environment to suit your objectives is how you ensure your policy is enacted. It’s how you ensure that you get what you need. I don’t think it needs to be viewed in a negative light. Manipulation isn’t always a negative. Take a minute to think about the concept and it becomes clear that there is more to it than purely destructive connotations.“MUN as an academic addition is a rather new concept despite how old MUN is as a tradition. Hopefully, over the coming years, it will become more central to what university departments see as being productive development amongst their students.”
MUNPlanet: In your MUNPlanet profile, you stated that you attended over 50 MUNs worldwide. From that variety, what conferences do you still keep in mind, and why?
Wilf: It does seem to be a little too many doesn’t it? Perhaps I have a problem. As for notable conferences, it is difficult to determine . Often, I remember people more than a conference itself. A delegate who stood out of the crowd with their experience, a chair who displayed an impeccable knowledge of the rules of procedure, a delegate who was highly attractive… However, there are one or two conferences which stand out. More often than not, it is either for a highly negative, or a highly positive aspect. One conference in particular, which shall remain anonymous, was so badly organised, on arrival as a delegate, I had to step in to help arrange the event. At the other end of the spectrum, conferences where I attended a crisis which was highly productive, creative and really pushed the delegates above and beyond also stand out. I won’t name any conferences here specifically, out of professional respect, as each conference changes from year to year. It is a lucky dip. It could be wonderful one year and terrible the next!MUNPlanet: You have been elected Secretary-General of LIMUN, London 2015. What have been the greatest challenges and opportunities for you during this project?Wilf: Well, I haven’t been doing the job for long, so I know there are far more challenges and opportunities to come. So far though, the biggest challenge has been selecting my absolutely stellar team. There were enormous numbers of applications and choosing a group of people who I thought would work well together was absolutely vital. We shall see how they get on. The biggest opportunity has been the chance to expand what LIMUN does. Since I gained office, LIMUN has implemented a new strategy, reformed as a new charity, now has a much larger Outreach presence in secondary schools across London; has a newly formed international presence and is hosting our first event with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in June this year. It has given me the chance to broaden my professional horizons, and also, hopefully, scope for personal friendships too.MUNPlanet: British higher education system is among the best in the world, and there is an established tradition of the study of International Relations. How would you describe the intellectual environment in your community and what is the academic exchange between the students and the MUN as a concept?Wilf: The intellectual environment is fantastic. My lecturers are leading practitioners in the field and are constantly producing more literature in the field, along with most other lecturers at universities in London and across the United Kingdom. It certainly allows you to challenge yourself on a variety of levels. As for the academic exchange, it is currently rather limited. MUN as an academic addition is a rather new concept despite how old MUN is as a tradition. Hopefully, over the coming years, it will become more central to what university departments see as being productive development amongst their students.MUNPlanet: The past decade has seen an increased dynamics and globalization of MUN as a concept. How do you see MUNs at the moment and in the years ahead? Wilf: Honestly, I feel like we are approaching the golden age of MUN. Not to say it’s over, merely that we are finally approaching our objective. They exist all over the world, in an enormous range of procedures, environments, objectives, committees. Hopefully, they will be seen as a tool to allow young people to comprehend how one piece of international politics works, albeit slightly less in depth than reality. I think it will start to serve as an important milestone. I have yet to hear of an MUN group that has trouble getting members!
“Honestly, I feel like we are approaching the golden age of MUN.”MUNPlanet: And what is the current state of MUNing in the United Kingdom?Wilf: Fantastic! More conferences than I can name, and I have been to a fair few in this country. There is an amazing community, the regulars of which all know each other and use each other’s expertise and advice. We often have to fight for ‘ownership’ of a weekend during the year to make sure another conference doesn’t divide the country in two! However, that is becoming more and more common as more conferences are started up. What can I say, come and visit!!MUNPlanet: Can you imagine a world in which the best MUNers are leaders of their respective states. What would International Politics look like, being informed by the spirit of UN Charter?Wilf: I feel like being a good MUNer, and being a good leader (of a country) are two rather different things. Being a good negotiator, diplomat, those are transferrable and useful skills. To be a leader of a nation however, I feel that a slightly different set of skills are needed . To see international politics ruled by, or informed at the least, by the UN Charter would be a much closer, more productive system. As to how realistic I see this proposal to be, again not very. It has been brought up in my activity on this site that I am a Realist (within the IR theoretical tradition). While this isn’t strictly true, I do often have a more pragmatic, or what some call pessimistic, view of international politics.

“I think this sort of community [MUNPlanet] can enact change, all over the world, in all sorts of communities.”MUNPlanet: One of the goals of MUNPlanet is to get the brightest members of the community together to take part in a meaningful dialogue and interaction. Do you believe that MUNers can step forward and bring about the change as a transnational leadership force?
Wilf: I certainly think that together, with a unified voice and a strong support base, a lot can be achieved. I think that the youth of this decade need to make a bigger impact. We are going to be on this earth for another 80 years, we need to do something to ensure its longevity. If part of that is convincing, debating with, enlightening the youth of today and getting them involved, then yes, I think this sort of community can enact change, all over the world, in all sorts of communities .MUNPlanet: What comes after MUNs, and in what way you plan to utilize your MUN experience?

Wilf: What comes after? I do wonder that, every day. With all the skills I now have, negotiating, debating, writing, critical thinking, management experience, logistical planning, coordination, etc. I could do a lot of things. Running recovery operations, helping to right the plethora of disasters, natural and otherwise, that plague this earth still presents itself as the most attractive option. Having said that, I will be applying for the Fast Stream civil service in the UK to head towards the Diplomatic core, but I have many options. All the experience pays off, in so many ways.

MUNPlanet: Any final thoughts?

Wilf: I really wish everyone could have the chance to experience MUN for themselves. To that end, I would love everyone to get as many people involved in it as possible. If they don’t like it, it’s not for them, that’s fine. But there are so many people out there who could use this form of widening experience and eye-opening debate to their advantage. I feel like MUN has more to offer than the cliché international perspective. It’s ultimately about skills. Set on a backdrop as interesting as international relations and the global community, I can’t see what wouldn’t be attractive about it. I should know, I haven’t planned on stopping quite yet.

MUNPlanet: Wilf, thank you for being the guest of Fridays with MUNPlanet, and sharing your experiences and views on the state of MUN affairs in the world with the community. We wish you all the best in preparing LIMUN 2015. Let us know how the things go.